Joseph Barry

Resourceful Camp Instructor known for productive and efficient task completion. Skilled in outdoor education, leadership development, and emergency response management. Excel in communication, teamwork, and adaptability, ensuring engaging and safe learning environments for all participants.

• Climber, Skier, Cyclist, Hiking, Camping and anything outdoors

• Pursuing AMGA Rock Guide license

Please list and describe ALL climbing experience:

• Actively climbing for 2 years containing boulder, lead (sport and trad), and top-rope. My first year was mostly bouldering indoors and started to lead about 1 year into my climbing journey. I climb mostly outdoors but in the past 6 months have climbed outdoors more and more. Some of my favorite places I’ve climbed are Promontory, New River Gorge, and Clear Creek Canyon. I’ve trad lead outdoors within my comfort level and have projected sport and boulder outdoors as well. I have also worked at Sportrock Climbing Centers in Alexandria, VA as a youth instructor helping the kids between the ages of 4-15 get better at climbing.

Please describe All relevant route setting experiences:

• I have fore-runned a couple of times with route setters at different gyms in the Virginia area including with a L5 setter at Sportrock in the Performance Institute. I have set on Kilter as well and have set on a home climbing wall on top rope. I have knowledge about setting safe but challenging boulders and love to be creative.

At what grade do you top rope, lead, and boulder?

• I don’t normally top rope but I have flashed 5.12 indoors on top rope. I lead indoors at about 5.12- and project outdoor 5.12 (can usually get route in long links by the end of a session). I can confidently climb 5.11 outdoors as well. The hardest I’ve bouldered indoors was V8 and outdoors V6 in Clear Creek. I can confidently climb V6 indoors in one session and some V7s.

Approximately how many days a year do you climb?

• I climb about 5-6 times a week year round and include outdoor and indoor days.

What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses related to the climbing wall route setting position?

• Some of my strengths would be I love slab surprisingly mostly because it doesn’t require a lot of powerful movement. I love competition style boulders with a lot of dynamic movement and have a lot of experience climbing USA level competition boulders. At Sportrock we have the Sportrock Performance Institute which sets for Sportrock teams where they set non-graded competition boulders (I climb there the most). Some of my weaknesses would be powerful movements that require a lot of endurance which is why I like slab so much. Also my height since I stand at 6 '4 it would be hard to accommodate for shorter climbers and not make too reachy climbs.

Please describe any relevant leadership experiences (not necessarily route setting leadership):

• At Sportrock I assisted my manager in organizing the camp and camp counselors. At my old high school, I was the club leader of the Ski/Snowboard club and the Mountain Biking Club. I assisted in planning trips and communicating to faculty in what we need and what we can do about it. I assisted our mountain biking club in gaining discounts so that students could afford parts or bikes more easily. I as well helped students that had never mountain biked before get into the sport. Other than that I was a proctor at my dorm in high school which is equivalent to a RA here.

Please list any route setting clinics or training(s) you have attended:

• I have not attended any clinics or training.

What do you hope to achieve by becoming a Climbing Wall Route Setter with the Outdoor Recreation Center?

• I hope to achieve becoming more knowledgeable and technically sound on the climbing wall. I want to set quality routes and routes that everyone can enjoy no matter the skill level. A lot of students here disregard the ORC climbing wall mostly because of the amount of space but I would love to set hard projects so that students can come and project when going to the Spot or Movement is not an option. I would love to meet new people and make new friends since I am a freshman. Gaining experience route setting would also open up more job opportunities outside of Mines and a root of connection with some.

Please list any other information that we should know about you that might be helpful for us to know when considering you for this position.

• I work well with teams and have a fun and creative style that would bring life to the wall.